Animal Neglect - 115 Dogs In Home

9-2-04 - Animal rescuers discovered more than 100 Chihuahuas living inside a Fannin County home on Thursday. The 115 dogs were packed into a 3-bedroom home in Honey Grove where they suffered from severe flea allergies, malnourishment, and injuries from biting one another.

A woman who stopped by the home last week alerted Bonham animal control officials to the case. They tried to inspect the home on Tuesday but the owner, Linda Crossland, wouldn’t allow them inside. By Thursday, animal control returned with the SPCA and a search warrant. They found the dogs inside, and the 48-year-old owner living outside in her car.

Video from inside the house showed that the dogs had taken over the house. In some cases, newspapers and junk was stacked to the ceiling.

Officials say Crossland had some of the dogs since 1998. As for why she had so many dogs, rescuers weren’t sure what her motives were or whether she’d tried to sell any of the dogs.

The Fannin County Attorney will decide if the owner will face criminal charges. The dogs have been taken to a treatment facility in McKinney.

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